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The Crimson Playgoer

"Dance Band," Starring Buddy Rogers, and "Two Fisted", with Lee Tracy, Now Showing

A picture like "Dance Band" is fine, should one be a personal admirer of Buddy Rogers, his charm, acting ability--but need we rhapsodize further? Smoothie maestro Rogers has a hard time impressing band-mistress June Clyde with his obvious merits until he gets a black eye in her service. That's the plot. The interstices are filled by views of various orchestras, Rogers tooting on various instruments, and amateurish hip-wiggling by June Clyde. There is a fairly good tune called the "Valparaiso," and a passable Spanish dance team, which, however, are soon forgotten when the movie returns to its theme of snuggle-wuggling, itsibitsing, etc. The Moviegoer offers no further comment, realizing that the freedom of the press has its limitations.

Fortunately, our sense of humor was restored by the other feature, "Two Fisted." This is a rollicking farce featuring Lee Tracy and Roscoe Kearns as manager and broken-down fighter, who save Gail Patrick and her son from the wiles of her no-good husband. As butler and first man, Lee Tracy and Roscoe Kearns are uproariously ridiculous puzzling over a text on the duties of a butler, setting a table, and insulting guests. To preserve the honor and wealth of the household, Kearns takes on a strong plug-ugly backed by the nefarious husband, and finally manages to clout him into a somnabulistic state when the other fighter was not looking. Except for occasional lapses, "Two Fisted" is uniformly funny, with crackling dialogue, and good slapstick. Should one like an impossible, ridiculous bit of fluff, this is the movie to see, but by all means time the arrival so that "Dance Band" will not have to be endured.

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